Cabinet approves amendment in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act to rectify an anomaly in allocating the number of seats in the Andhra Pradesh legislative council and enhance the total number of seats to 58 as per provisions in the Constitution.

The cabinet approved amendment of section 23(1) and section 23(2)(i)(a) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, an official statement said.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that since the present strength of the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly is 175 and one-third of its strength is constitutionally permissible, it is hence proposed to increase the strength to 58 from the current 50 members, it added.

Sort out all anomalies in AP Reorganisation Act: TRS to Centre

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) demanded the Centre to sort out all anomalies in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, as the Union government approved an amendment for increasing the number of seats in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council from 50 to 58.

Alleging that the move to increase the number of seats in the Legislative Council was taken under the pressure of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, senior TRS leader and party MP B Vinod Kumar said the Centre should have considered the other aspects which were vital for the larger interest of the people in both the states.

"I am not saying the Centre is favouring Andhra Pradesh. But, these steps (increasing the number of seats in the AP Legislative Council) were taken because of the pressure of Chandrababu Naidu, who is interested in increasing the MLC seats," Kumar said.

Elaborating various issues with the AP reorganisation Act, he said that are pressing needs for amending three schedules of the act pertaining to reservation for STs and Parliamentary constituencies.

"In the first schedule, some MPs in Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were allocated to their neighbouring states through draw of lots. It has to be amended," he said.

Referring to non-inclusion of Valmiki community in the ST list of Telangana, he sought necessary amendments to the act in this regard.